I’ll try to make a long story short. My brother and I went through a lot together. We were both neglected and abused by “family.” I have my struggles. Emotionally, mostly. I have a lot of healing and growing to do. I’ve just left a toxic long-term relationship. My brother has his own struggles that differ from mine. He has a lengthy criminal record for drug possession. He has also been involved to some extent in gang activity in the past. 3 years ago he was shot in the head and miraculously survived. I feel that he would like to change, that he, like me, may just need a chance.
The people around us, the “family,” always tried to paint a dark picture of him, saying that he uses people, that he doesn’t really care for people. I, however, feel otherwise. I believe that he is a good person at heart. All of the times he was there to comfort me when we were growing up, when no one else bothered. He used to be the only one who would buy me gifts and bother to actually wrap them on my birthday, even though he hardly had any money. I feel like he taught me a lot about what it means to care about another person.
He has been in the habit of asking me for money when he’s in a pinch. He asked me for money when he was thinking about doing drug deals again, and I denied him that because I didn’t want to be involved. I want better for him. Also, I personally prefer to not borrow money from anyone; I don’t like feeling that I owe someone financially.
I haven’t actually seen him in a few years, but we’ve gotten back in touch. I would like to move to Texas, start fresh. He’s interested in going with me. His daughter is there. And honestly, it would be nice to not be all alone in a new place. I’ve been making mistakes for so long in life, and I want to take a chance to do good. If I can help him I would like to do that.
Does it sound worthwhile to you? Or do you think it would be asking for trouble, given his lifestyle? I’m worried that it would turn into me having no peace and constantly worrying about what he’s doing.